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| Geography |  The Rural Municipality (RM) of Eldon consists of 1,007.56 sq. kilometers (kms). Comprised of 11 Townships with 6 Divisions, its boundaries extend north to the North Saskatchewan River, east to the RM of Paynton, two miles west of Waseca, and south just about to the Battle River.
| | History | Between 1900 and 1910, a quarter section of land could be purchased from the government for ten dollars. The buyer must lived on it for six months a year, for three years, in a house built worth at least three hundred dollars, and thirty acres was put into crop. This provided a good incentive for early settlers to come out and make their homes. It also provided jobs.
The arrival of the railroad in 1905 brought an increase of settlers. New people arrived in covered wagons, horseback, and upon river barges. Some even trekked the land on foot from places like Regina, in search of a place to build a homestead.
With rapid growth in the rural district, strong direction became necessary. The first meeting of councilors of Local Improvement District (L.I.D.) 24-5-3 was held in Maidstone school April 26, 1907. The following month, ratepayers were assessed at five cents per acre, to be paid in cash or work them out at two dollars per day. In July, a query was sent off to Regina regarding a well-boring machine. In August, the Village of Maidstone met with councilors for discussion on a Union Cemetery.
February of 1909, the councilors disposed the interest of the Union Cemetery to the Village, to be known as Maidstone Cemetery. December 9, the RM of Eldon No. 471 was incorporated. Mr. J. Walter was the first Reeve. Councilors were M. Tebo (Division 1), S. Stevenson (Division 2), J.D. McKerchar (Division 3), D. Cutsforth (Division 4), A. Pike (Division 5), T. G. McLaren (Division 6). The first administrator was A.C. Elliot.
The first meeting of the RM of Eldon was held January 3, 1910. In April, the tax rate was increased to six cents per acre, four cents in cash and the balance to be worked out.
The early settlers had the insight that there was oil in this country as far back as 1908, as the landscape looked similar to the Texas oilfields. Years later, Dr. Sweet and Jim Foster of Maidstone formed the Pamawalla Oil Company. Soon, other oil companies formed to explore the oil possibility in this area. Gas exploration began in 1944.
August of 1938, the council passed a resolution to have the RM of Eldon No. 471 formed into a purebred sire area.
| | Economic Information | Oil and agriculture are the major industries. In the land of canola, with a population of 838 residents, grain and purebred cattle production are pulsating. With an expanding gas industry, more than 1,926 oil wells exist on some of the richest farmland in Western Canada. In the last year, 2,111,163 cubic metres of oil has been produced. Municipal assessment is at $132,506,770.
Lower land and housing costs; a highly skilled workforce; a diversified economy; a reasonably priced and reliable supply of electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunications services; a comprehensive, quality education system; and a health care system that is second to none, as well as, competitive labour costs and employer-provided benefits and the lowest corporate income tax rate in Western Canada for manufacturers and processors are just some of the advantages Saskatchewan has to offer.
A clean environment, wide-open spaces, abundance of raw materials, perfect environment for value-added processing and manufacturing, a competitive edge, and prime location between two major cities, are just some of the reasons to consider doing business in this RM. Entrepreneurial opportunities are limitless. There has never been a better time to get on board!
| | Attractions | The RM of Eldon No. 471 offers a variety of breathtaking sceneries from flat fields as far as the eye can see, to rolling hills, and gullies that twist and turn that include fields of crops, trees, streams, lakes, and a river.
Animals that can be found within this rich land include purebred cattle, horses, bison, elk, deer, sheep, llamas, and an abundance of wildlife.
Attractions that have drawn in visitors from around the world include Silver Lake Regional Park, Shiloh Baptist Church and Cemetery, Wesson Memorial, Forest Bank Anglican Church and Cemetery, Kenderdine Memorial, Pine Island, Fort Pitt, and Fort Pitt Trail.
| | Other Info | Residents have instant access to a large variety of services within the Town of Maidstone and within the RM boundaries that include Maidstone Hospital, accommodations, churches, clubs and organizations, community services, fuel, recreation, restaurants, points of interest, shops, and other services.
The RM Office is located on 212 Main Street, Maidstone and can be reached at (306) 893-2391.
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